The Innocence Project and Innocence Network want to learn about your experience to better understand why some innocent people might plead guilty to a crime they did not commit. I understand that by continuing to complete this form that the Innocence Project and Innocence Network will not evaluate my case for legal representation, are not and will not provide me with any legal advice or assistance in connection with the matter I am describing, and are not and will not be bound by any duties of confidentiality or privilege.
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I accept.I do not accept.

Thank you for sharing your story. This survey will take about 5-10 minutes to complete. You will have an opportunity to tell us more about your experience in your own words at the end of the survey. If you do not know the answer to a question or can't remember the information, click "other" and indicate that you do not know or can't remember the information.

Do you give us permission to share your story on our website and social media? (No contact information will be shared or used for solicitation purposes)
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As long as you don't use my name, you have my permission to make public the information that I have provided.

You do not have permission to share my information without contacting me first.

I'm glad you are working on this issue, but you do not have permission to share my information.

First name:
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Last name:
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Email Address:
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Phone Number:
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Your gender:
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Female

Male

Transgender

Other

Your race/ethnicity:
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Black

Latino

American Indian/Alaska

White/Caucasian

Asian

Hawaii / PAC. Islander

I'd rather not say.

Other

County of conviction:
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ex. Kings County

State of conviction:
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Year of the conviction:
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ex. 1995

How old were you at the time of the conviction?
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ex. 17

What type of crime did you plead guilty to?
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Felony

Misdemeanor

Other

What was the name of the crime you pled guilty to?
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What was the highest level of crime you were charged with?
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Felony

Misdemeanor

Other

What was the name of the highest crime you were charged with?
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If you were sentenced to jail or prison, how much time did you serve?
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ex. 5 years

If you didn't serve time in jail or prison, what was your punishment?

Do you believe that you pled guilty to a crime you did not commit?
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Yes, I pled guilty to a crime I did not commit.

No, I committed a crime and pled guilty.

Other

Regarding your guilty plea:

I believe that I did not commit ANY of the crimes I was charged with.

I believe that I did commit SOME but not ALL of the crimes I was charged with.

Why did you plead guilty? (Check the top three reasons that apply)
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My lawyer, the prosecutor, and/or the judge were pressuring me to take the plea deal right away and I was told that the plea deal would not be offered again.

I did not believe that I would win at trial and I was offered a deal for less jail/prison time than if I risked trial and lost.

I was being held in jail on bail and I wanted to go home.

I was afraid that if I was convicted of the crime I was charged with I would lose my housing, my benefits, and/or my educational opportunities, or threaten my immigration status.

I did not trust my attorney to fight for me.

I thought the prosecutor and/or police officers would lie against me and that the judge would believe them over me.

I wanted the process to be over.

I have kids or others who depend on my care, and I could not come back and forth to court.

I did not understand what was happening and I thought I would not have a record.

I had a job and didn’t want to lose my job.

I committed SOME but not ALL of the crimes I was charged with.

I didn't have a lawyer.

Other

How did this experience impact your life?
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If you have any additional information about your experience you'd like us to know, please share here: